- Zenith Motorcycles
Infobox Defunct Company
company_name = Zenith Motorcycles
company_
fate =
successor =
foundation = 1904
defunct = 1950
location =London
industry = manufacturing and engineering
key_people =
products = motorcycles
num_employees =
parent =
subsid =Zenith Motorcycles was a British
motorcycle manufacturer established inFinsbury Park , London in 1904. Zenith motorcycles used engines from various suppliers, including Precision,Villiers andJAP . [cite web|url=http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/euro/brands/zenith.htm|title=Zenith Motorcycles|accessdate=2008-08-14] Under chief Engineer Freddy Barnes, Zenith developed the 'Gradua' gear, a variable pulley which adjusted the length of the drive belt by sliding the rear wheel backwards or forwards in the slots. This gave Zenith a great advantage which competitors claimed was unfair and many clubs banned the Gradua Zeniths, who simply included the word "Barred" in their badge. [cite web|url=http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/zenith-classic-motorcycles.php|title=Zenith Classic Motorcycles|accessdate=2008-08-14]In the 1930's Zenith hit hard times and closed down production but the name was bought by Writers of Kennington, who had been one of their main dealers, and production restarted at the
Hampton Court factory inSurrey . TheSecond World War stopped producton again but they managed to stockpile enough 750ccJAP engines to continue straight after the war.JAP had ceased production, however, so once the last engine had been used it was the end of the line for Zenith and they finally closed in 1950."cite book | last = Currie | first = Bob | title = Classic British Motorcycles over 500cc | publisher = Patrick Stephens Ltd | date = 1988 | pages = p. 94 | isbn =1-85260-083-7 ]Models
References
External links
* [http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Zenith%20Bikes/Zenith%20Index.htm Zenith motorcycles gallery]
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